Eliot Spitzer, the former New York governor who resigned amid a prostitution scandal, says he will vote for the only Democrat vying for the governor's seat, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Spitzer told the New York Times"I think it’s clear he will win." Spitzer even said he intended to cast a ballot for Cuomo -- though last spring he had expresses reservations about his qualifications. When asked if he intended to vote for him -- during a recent television news program -- he responded "sure I am."
But, he said Cuomo "has a tough road ahead of him."
Last month, a Quinnipiac University poll released found the Democrat is favored more than 2-to-1 over his challengers for the seat in Albany, Republicans Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino.
Lazio and Paladino face each other in a Sept. 14 Republican primary, but a head-to-head matchup hasn't yet been released by Quinnipiac, which continues to poll New Yorkers. Against Cuomo, however, there is little difference between the Republicans. Cuomo tops Lazio 57 percent to 25 percent and Paladino 60-23.
Sixty-three percent of voters said Cuomo hasn't done enough to explain how he would fix New York's budget problems.
"Almost two-third of New Yorkers would like him to say more," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac poll.
Voters were asked if Cuomo was deferring to Gov. David Paterson — as Cuomo has said in the past when questioned about his refusal to comment on controversial issues — or "ducking his responsibility." Forty-four percent said he was ducking while 32 percent felt he was deferring to Paterson, a Democrat who isn't seeking a full term this fall. The remaining 24 percent were unsure or had no answer.
Spitzer, who has become a political pundit of late, declined to say who he was supporting among five Democrats vying in the primary to succeed Cuomo as attorney general.
Putting the prostitution scandal that brought him down behind him, Spitzer will also soon co-host a prime time talk show on CNN.
